The British Army has ordered 37 Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) systems to restore its artillery capabilities after transferring its AS-90 fleet to Ukraine.
The Organisation for Joint Armament Cooperation (OCCAR) awarded a £53-million ($70-million) contract to ARTEC for long-lead production on behalf of the UK. ARTEC is a consortium comprising KNDS Deutschland, Rheinmetall Landsysteme, and Rheinmetall Defence Nederland BV.
The RCH 155 system consists of two main components: the Boxer armored vehicle drive module and the artillery gun module, which includes the turret and weapon system. The contract covers essential parts such as the barrel, muzzle brake, breech, recoil system, and trunnions used to mount the gun.
Of the total contract, £30 million ($40 million) is allocated to developing Rheinmetall’s new Gun Hall in Telford. The facility is expected to create roughly 100 skilled jobs and support additional employment across the UK supply chain, while also establishing domestic capacity for large-caliber gun barrel production.
This award follows a £52-million ($69-million) contract signed in December for three early capability demonstrator vehicles for joint UK-Germany testing, building on the Trinity House Agreement signed in October 2024.
The RCH 155 combines the firepower of the automated Artillery Gun Module with the mobility and protection of the Boxer platform. Weighing approximately 39 tons, it can fire up to eight rounds per minute while moving at speeds of up to 100 km/h, and engage targets at distances exceeding 70 kilometers depending on ammunition type. Operated by a two-person crew, the highly automated system has an operational range of roughly 700 kilometers.
